Europe’s signature scaleup competition is back!
EIT Digital welcomes applications from scaleups that need fundraising support. Our winners, our Champions, will receive free entry into the EIT Digital Growth Services programme. In this 11th edition, we will select more finalists than ever to pitch their companies to our jury of international investors.
We can’t wait to see which deep tech Champions will arise!
champion
cham·pē·ən
noun: one who has surpassed all rivals
The EIT Digital Champions aims to identify the best European deep tech entrepreneurs and help them scale up internationally, supporting the European innovation ecosystem.
We’re looking for fast-growing European companies with a differentiated product offering that leverages highly innovative digital technologies.
Read full entry requirements here.
champion
cham·pē·ən
verb: vigorously support or defend the cause of
EIT Digital vigorously supports the scaleups in our Growth Services programme. Next March our Champions will gain free admission to the programme and begin their journey to fundraising success. Our team will PREPARE them to pitch their company, CONNECT them with international investors, and help them RAISE their next round. Will you be a Champion?
Journey of a Champion
STEP 1
In October of 2022, WSense competed in the EIT Digital Champions, pitching their amazing company and their Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) technology. After impressing the jury, they were declared one of our Champions.
STEP 2
Over the next twelve months, WSense worked with EIT Digital’s growth services team to Prepare, Connect, & Raise. Together they prepared a compelling message, connected with key investors and arranged numerous investor calls.
STEP 3
In October of 2023, just one year later, WSense raised €9M from investors in three different EU countries! This is how EIT Digital supports European scaleups. Will you join us on this journey? Apply to the EIT Digital Champions today!
Raise your next Series A or B round with support from an experienced Access to Finance team
Marie-Caroline Hameon
Marie-Caroline Hameon
Marie-Caroline has 15+ years of experience in M&A and corporate finance advisory with a focus on the digital tech sector.
After starting her career within Ernst & Young TAS (Transaction Advisory Services) in Paris and New-York, Marie-Caroline joined Drake Stars, a Corporate Banking boutique specialized in the technology, media and communication sectors, and worked closely to entrepreneurs to help them succeed in their fundraising.
Jari Mieskonen
Jari Mieskonen
Seasoned venture manager with experience of some +120 direct investments mainly in Nordics and Baltics area. He has been a board member of all direct investments he has executed and served several years in Invest Europe venture council, FVCA board and is currently chairman of Nordic Venture Network. He is more like generalist than focused specialist what comes to technologies. He has always protected founder’s interest in complex deal structures and kept neutral professionalism in deal making. Based on his long experience in the venture industry he has seen several cycles in the market and knows that timing is sometimes more important than maximum value.
Daniel Michel
Daniel Michel
Passionate about Digital technologies, Daniel started his career as an engineer employing distributed software architectures, while working on space programs at Airbus. He has a broad experience in various digital technologies, gained initially at CentraleSupélec, MIT (AI Lab), and Imperial College London where he gained an MSc in Communications & Signal Processing. He has been supporting tens of companies in the fundraising efforts in the last 10 years, in various technical areas: SaaS, Enterprise Software, ClimateTech, MedTech, Fintech, Industry 4.0, IoT, HW, etc.
Prior to joining EIT Digital, Daniel has spent 15 years advising corporates and shareholders on a great variety of transactions: Venture Capital fundraisings, M&A, Private Equity, LBO, IPOs, ECM.
Ben McClure
Ben McClure
Based in London, Ben is a seasoned technology financing and growth advisor and investor, Ben has been serving tech CEOs for more than two decades, helping them grow their businesses, getting them ready for new investment, and helping them secure financing investors based in the UK and across Europe and around the world.Based in London, Ben is a member of the EIT Digital Access to Finance team. A seasoned technology financing and growth advisor and investor, Ben has been serving tech CEOs for more than two decades, helping them grow their businesses, getting them ready for new investment, and helping them secure financing investors based in the UK and across Europe and around the world.
Dr Daniel Auriel
Dr Daniel Auriel
Daniel is as "deeptech" as they get. He started his career in chemical and pharmaceutical R&D in large corporation such as Bayer and Stora Enso, before taking on various innovation, strategy and business assignments focused on advanced technologies in Germany, China, Israel and other regions. His work resulted in in 7 products brought to the market, 1 business unit & 1 regional office created, and 1 new business model implemented.
Since 2015, he followed his passion for entrepreneurship & investments as VC investment manager (Capricorn Venture Partners), as venture partner for a start-up incubator/accelerator, and as angel investor as well as start-up advisor. He joined EIT Digital in 2019 where he covers the DACH region and has helped successfully close multiple fundraisings in areas such as MedTech/HealthTech, PropTech, Big Data, ClimateTech, AgroTech, etc.
Our Growth Services Success Stories
€13M RAISE
AI and high-performance computing to manage and prevent the impact of climate risks.
INVESTORS
Microsoft Climate Fund- Nationwide Ventures
- Kibo Ventures
- Creas Impacto
Faber Ventures
€9M RAISE
WSense ‘s deep-tech wireless underwater monitoring and communication systems enables an Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT).
INVESTORS
Swen- CDP
RunwayFBU- Katapult
- Axon Partners Group
€6M RAISE
Sensoneo provides enterprise-grade smart waste management products and services intended to redefine the way waste is managed.
INVESTORS
EIC Fund- Venture to Future Fund
Taiwania Capital
Timeline
| November 30, 2023 | January 30, 2024 23:59 CET | February 6-7, 2024 | March 19, 2024 | May 22-25, 2024 |
| Applications Open | Submission Deadline | Online Pitch Competition with VC Investors | Proclamation of Champions | Champions attend VIP Investor Dinner @ VivaTech, Paris |
These top tier investors attended recent editions of the Champions
Criteria
Fast-growing technology company with international ambitions
Company max. ten years old*
Company incorporated in EU27 or Horizon Europe Associated Countries**
Growth stage: min €500,000 in revenue (2023), OR at least €2,000,000 in total funding to date
*Company incorporated after 01/01/2014
**See the full list of countries here.
Startups in growth stage (scaleups) can apply in five thematic areas: Digital Tech, Digital Industry, Digital Cities, Digital Wellbeing, and Digital Finance. Learn more about them here.
We will examine the market and internationalization potential of your product or service as well as the quality of your core team. We will also consider the fit of your product or service to our thematic areas and the impact our support could have on your business.
In addition, you must be prepared to pitch in public. Pitch and application must be done in English. Make sure to read our contest conditions and check the FAQ page. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to contact us at champions@eitdigital.eu.
Let's keep in touch
Contact us at champions@eitdigital.eu.
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